Battle of Montgomery: History Repeats

As mentioned in the previous post, recreating the 1644 Battle of Montgomery was up next on the gaming table.  In a long overdo change of pace, the battle would be fought F2F.  It has been a very long time since the gaming table last witnessed a F2F battle.

The battle would be fought as a two-player game with Kevin taking the Royalists and Scott commanding the Parliamentarian Army.

Brief situation: Royalists, under Byron, are besieging Montgomery.  Meldrum has crossed the River Camlads in order to lift the siege and resupply the town and garrison.  Meldrum sends out a foraging party of cavalry to bring in supplies for both his troops and the besieged troops within Montgomery.  Seeing that his command outnumbers Meldrum after Meldrum sent off about 30% of his cavalry, Byron orders an attack to drive the Roundheads into the river.  Camlads is only crossable at Salt Bridge.  Meldrum is outnumbered but expecting his foraging party to be recalled and return at some point in the battle.  Byron is overconfident and does not offer much in personal command for the battle.  Lothian's Chelshire foote have sworn to stand and will fight to the death.

Initial dispositions

Royalists win if the Parliamentarian Army can be broken before it falls back across the River Camlads to safety.  Parliamentarians win if the Royalists can be broken and the siege lifted.  Parliamentarians gain a minor victory if they can cross back over the River Camlads to safety before their army is broken.

Historically, Meldrum won the battle even though outnumbered.  Several deployment variations are hypothesized.  I chose the deployment will the cavalry massed upon the Royalist left. 

How did the action unfold?  Please follow the action below:

Seeing that he outnumbers his adversary, Byron seizes the initiative and moves his cavalry to begin the battle.  Royalists are on the left in the photo above.

All of Tyldesley's cavalry regiments advance out onto the plain to gain the central position.

One of Fairfax' cavalry regiments charges into the lead Royalist cavalry regiment.  Casualties are heavy to both but both regiments remain engaged.

Byron orders all foote to advance down the slope and takes the battle to the outnumbered enemy on the plain below.

More cavalry clashes are seen in the center of the battlefield while the Royalist foote advance steadily toward its foe.

Cavalry on the Royalist left fall back to recover having fought several telling melees.  One Roundhead foote is driven back by a well-placed volley. 

Another cavalry clash near the Salt Bridge.  Both have their generals attached in an attempt to sway the outcome.

With Roundhead horse and foote making their way onto the plain and pushing back their opposition, the Royalist left is threatened by the timely arrival of the Roundhead foraging party upon the left.

At this point in the battle, Byron is killed and Broughton's infantry loses its nerve.  Broughton's command falls back to the seeming safety of the heights. 

Fairfax' cavalry attempts to surround the Royalist horse and discourages them from continuing offensive action.  The Royalists are looking to be hemmed-in on their left and front.

The entire Royalist Army retraces its steps back up onto the high ground.  The Royalists seem to relinquish the ground taken too easily. 

The Royalists ring the high ground awaiting an attack from Meldrum.

One Roundhead cavalry regiment turns the Royalist left as pressure mounts toward the front.  Roundhead infantry begin the long slog up the slopes to meet the enemy. 

Royalist cavalry charges to stop the turning of its battle line. 

Fighting is fierce and the Roundheads are driven back.  Royalist cavalry fall back to regroup.  Woodhouse's infantry form up into anti-cavalry defenses  

while the cavalry continue withdrawing back onto the upper slopes.

On the Royalist right, the dragoons anchoring the Royalist position are driven off by a determined attack.

Both flanks have been turned and Tyldesley's cavalry have broken!

With Meldrum closing the noose upon his enemy, the Royalist position is lost.

The Royalists flee the field and the siege of Montgomery is lifted.

Victory to Meldrum and the Parliamentarian Army!

Well!  That was quite a sharp action and while the outcome was historical, the result was surprising.  Surprising since the battle unfolded much like the actual event.  Bryon's army was making good progress in the early stage of battle and drove back both horse and foote before them.  When the Roundhead foraging party arrived upon the left, Bryon seemed to lose all confidence and gave up his advantage in numbers.  Of course, officer casualties were very heavy with Byron or his replacement being shot from the saddle on three occasions.  Good game by both Scott and Kevin.

This battle will be refought with the UK Monday Night Group remotely on Tuesday.  It will be interesting to see if the next battle trial sees the same result as this one.  Whatever the outcome, I hope the battle presents an engaging contest.